Sap flow characteristics and physiological adjustments of two dominant tree species in pure and mixed plantations in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of China

It is essential to understand the water consumption characteristics and physiological adjustments of tree species under drought conditions, as well as the effects of pure and mixed plantations on these characteristics in semi-arid regions. In this study, the normalized sap flow (SF_n), leaf water potential, stomatal conductance (g_s), and photosynthetic rate (P_r) were monitored for two dominant species, i.e., Pinus tabuliformis and Hippophae rhamnoides, in both pure and mixed plantations in a semi-arid region of Chinese Loess Plateau. A threshold-delay model showed that the lower rainfall thresholds (R^L) for P. tabuliformis and H. rhamnoides in pure plantations were 9.6 and 11.0 mm, respectively, and the time lags (τ) after rainfall were 1.15 and 1.76 d for corresponding species, respectively. The results indicated that P. tabuliformis was more sensitive to rainfall pulse than H. rhamnoides. In addition, strong stomatal control allowed P. tabuliformis to experience low g_s and P_r in response to drought, while maintaining a high midday leaf water potential (Ψ_m). However, H. rhamnoides maintained high g_s and P_r at a low Ψ_m expense. Therefore, P. tabuliformis and H. rhamnoides can be considered as isohydric and anisohydric species, respectively. In mixed plantation, the values of R^L for P. tabuliformis and H. rhamnoides were 6.5 and 8.9 mm, respectively; and the values of τ were 0.86 and 1.61 d for corresponding species, respectively, which implied that mixed afforestation enhanced the rainfall pulse sensitivity for both two species, especially for P. tabuliformis. In addition, mixed afforestation significantly reduced SF_n, g_s, and P_r for P. tabuliformis (P<0.05), while maintaining a high leaf water potential status. However, no significant effect of mixed afforestation of H. rhamnoides was observed at the expense of leaf water potential status in response to drought. Although inconsistent physiological responses were adopted by these species, the altered water consumption characteristics, especially for P. tabuliformis indicated that the mixed afforestation requires further investigation.     

Role of cytokeratin 8 on changes of intestinal epithelial permeability induced by corticotropin-releasing factor

AIM: To investigate the role of cytokeratin 8 (CK8) on the change of intercellular permeability of intestinal epithelial cells induced by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). METHODS: The expression levels of CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) and CRFR2 on human colon adenocarcinoma HT29 cell surface were determined by immunofluorescence staining. After treatment with 100 nmol/L CRF for 72 h, the translocation of FITC-labelled dextran was measured in a Transwell chamber. The structural changes of tight junctions were observed under transmission electron microscope. The expression levels of CK8, and tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin were determined by Western blot. The activity of protein kinase C (PKC) was detected by ELISA. Furthermore, the effects of CRF on intestinal epithelial permeability were examined in CK8-silencing HT29 cells, which were constructed by infection with sh-CK8 lentivirus. RESULTS: CRF treatment increased the permeability of FITC-labelled dextran (P<0.05), caused the opening of tight junctions, and induced increased fluorescence intensity of CK8. The expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 were down-regulated (P<0.05). PKC activity was decreased at 1 h after CRF treatment (P<0.05). CRF-induced increase in the permeability and down-regulation of occludin were not blocked by CK8 silencing. Nevertheless,CK8 silencing blocked the effects of CRF regarding the decrease in the expression levels of ZO-1 and the increase in PKC activity (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CK8 may be involved in CRF-induced increase in intestinal epithelial permeability by inhibiting the activity of PKC, and there may be other signaling pathways involved.     

Unravelling the relationship between a seasonal environment and the dynamics of forage growth in grazed swards

It is well reported in the scientific literature that pastures can have similar net forage accumulation when managed with contrasting structures. However, we hypothesized that the dynamics of forage accumulation in grazed swards is linked to seasonal-environmental conditions. Marandu palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha [Hochst. ex A. Rich.] was used as the forage species model. The experimental treatments were four grazing heights (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm) allocated to experimental units according to a randomized complete block design with four replicates and evaluated throughout four contrasting environmental seasons (summer, autumn, winter–early spring and late spring). Under rainy and warm periods, greater net forage accumulation was observed in pastures maintained taller; on the contrary, during the mild and dry periods, net forage accumulation rate reduced as grazing height increased. Such patterns of responses were related to compensations between tiller population density and tissues flows during summer and late spring and the reduced capacity of taller canopies to compensate lower population with greater growth rates during autumn and winter–early spring. Grazed swards changed their patterns of forage growth as they transitioned from favourable to more abiotic stressful conditions, suggesting that seasonal adjustments in grazing intensities are necessary in order to maximize forage production.     

“一分钟游程”构园法则的适用性研究

“一分钟游程”构园法则将人的视觉感受与园林组景共同考虑,以25~30 m作为组景转换的理想距离,对游路结构进行反复烘托与不断强化,从而形成柔和、丰富的“构景曲线”。选择南北方各具代表性的苏州沧浪亭和北京恭王府花园,分析其园林的景观布局,对比园林空间序列的“起”“承”“转”“合”间距。结果表明,“一分钟游程”构园法则在南方私家园林及北方皇家园林中同样适用,为今后的游线组织与组景布设提供了设计参考。     

MacCormack算法在长输管道瞬变流动仿真中的应用

为了提高长输管道仿真精度和速率,基于MacCormack格式基本原理和流动方程建立了长输液体管道水力瞬变流动仿真模型。以某管道为例,分别采用该仿真算法和特征线法模拟了阀门关闭和流量增加引起的瞬变流动,并探讨了MacCormack格式中不同边界条件处理方法及Courant常数值对模拟结果的影响。结果表明:MacCormack格式可用于精确仿真长输管道瞬变流动过程,采用特征线法求解预估层边界参数后,其振荡幅度、收敛速度均优于特征线仿真方法;同时,采用特征线法处理MacCormack格式边界条件较线性外插法更易收敛。研究成果可为长输管道瞬变流动仿真提供参考。     

Over 40% of 450 registered wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum) worldwide are composed of multiple biotypes

Many of 450 common wheat cultivars bred and registered during the twentieth century in 12 countries were proved, due to seed-by-seed analysis, to be composed of two or more biotypes differing in their alleles at the gliadin (Gli) loci. These multiple biotypes may be regarded as authentic progeny of the respective parent lines, as evidenced by the gliadin composition of the respective parents. Therefore, the official claim for each cultivar to be uniform is commonly not maintained in practice. The most frequent was a non-uniform cultivar composed of two biotypes differing at one Gli locus, but there were cultivars represented by a large set of related genotypes differing at several Gli loci. The proportion of the multi-biotype cultivars was never less than 15% for a country collection, exceeding 50% in other countries. This proportion differed significantly between neighbouring countries. In Australia, all multi-biotype cultivars were found in eastern states; in the state of Victoria, their frequency was statistically higher than in the rest of the country. The proportion of multi-biotype cultivars among newly-released cultivars decreased with time in Australia and the UK. Thus, the non-uniformity of registered cultivars represents a general and important phenomenon of common wheat as a crop.     

横轴流脱粒分离装置的数学模型的建立与试验

横轴流脱粒分离装置滚筒长度限制了其脱粒分离能力,仅被应用于中小型联合收割机。为研究横轴流脱粒分离装置脱粒滚筒转速、喂入量、脱粒间隙等因素对脱粒分离性能的影响,优化装置结构,利用概率学理论建立了横轴流脱粒分离装置的未脱净率和夹带损失率数学模型。对模型正确性验证试验表明,模型对未脱净率的预测相对误差为8.23%,对夹带损失率的预测相对误差为2.90%。仿真分析和试验表明,该模型可反映籽粒轴向分布和脱粒滚筒转速、喂入量、脱粒间隙等参数对脱粒分离性能的影响。     

“一带一路”沿线分区用水结构与产业结构的分析比较

“一带一路”沿线用水结构与产业结构的分析，对支撑沿线区域发展意义重大。基于“一带一路”主体水资源区分区及用水研究，采用赫芬达尔-赫希曼指数（HHI指数）分析了“一带一路”产业用水量和GDP的地理集中度，采取用水结构指数和产业结构指数分析了分区用水结构及产业结构的差异，应用洛伦茨曲线和基尼系数对“一带一路”全区用水量与GDP的匹配度进行研究，计算了“一带一路”分区基于数列的用水量与GDP匹配度。结果表明：① “一带一路”第一产业用水量和GDP产值的集中度在三大产业中均为最高，主要集中在东亚、西亚、南亚和东南亚；② 不同分区分产业用水量和GDP产值占各分区总量的比值，在空间分布差异上从大到小依次为第一、第三、第二产业；③ “一带一路”全区第三产业用水结构与GDP产值匹配度最差，南亚是第一产业和第三产业匹配度最差的分区。分析成果有助于系统了解“一带一路”区域用水和产业结构的基本情况，为深入分析分区水资源与经济社会关系提供指导。     

某高铁隧道小口径井抽水试验探讨

指出了在某高铁隧道勘察中采用小口径抽水试验方法,具有操作简单便捷,成本低的优势。通过小口径井抽水试验查明场地的水文地质条件,得出了水文地质原始数据资料,根据单孔稳定流承压水非完整井的水文地质实际情况,选取合适的公式分别计算出了隧道岩层渗透系数及影响半径,为高铁隧道的勘察设计及顺利施工提供参考。